If you need a compact tool for reviewing and editing images or are pressed for space and weight while traveling, an iPad can be a great solution. With models available in a variety of sizes, photographers of all walks are sure to find one that meets their space constraints. At the same time, iPads now pack enough power to fulfill the role a laptop once played or provide an initial look-and-edit before moving images to a workstation for final output.
For photographers, an iPad makes a great everyday companion as a powerful and beautiful alternative to a bulky laptop. It is also fast and intuitive, allowing you to show off your portfolio without having to haul around delicate prints or expensive books. It can be integrated into workflows for fast previewing and editing of photos or as part of a wireless setup, where a client can see your images without having to hover over your shoulder. Camera and lighting connectivity apps are available for direct linking to a camera to control shooting, or as a tool in the studio.
What makes the iPad special is the beautiful display, and the best screens are found on the flagship iPad Pro line. The 12.9 and 10.5" versions are equipped with brilliant Retina displays featuring resolutions of 2732 x 2048 and 2224 x 1668, respectively. These Multi-Touch displays have been upgraded in the latest models to feature ProMotion technology for ultra-fast 120 Hz refresh rates, meaning any adjustments you make will be exceptionally smooth to the eye. Other significant upgrades include a brightness of up to 600 nits, providing limited HDR support, a wide P3 gamut for more true-to-life colors, and a coating that reduces reflectivity to just 1.8% for easy viewing nearly anywhere. All of these features make it a perfect tool for photographers because their images will look vibrant, sharp, and accurate.
With updates comes improved processing throughout, and the A10X Fusion chip delivers 30% faster processing and 40% faster graphics handling, both of which will help photographers work with and edit their images. The iPad Pro will also provide up to 10 hours of battery life, making it a much more convenient all-day tool for reviewing photographs. Of course, a device is nothing without applications to run on it. With Apple’s App Store and a plethora of developers working on professional-level apps, photographers will have all of the tools they need to create beautiful images. This includes Adobe, which offers Lightroom as a mobile app, to perform edits on raw files and will then sync with your desktop version.
The iPad Pro welcomes a couple of smart accessories that will take your productivity to new levels. The beautifully designed Apple Pencil, Apple’s evolution of the stylus, offers creatives a precise tool for making edits or retouching, much like a graphics tablet. Working with the Multi-Touch display, users will have the ability to apply different levels of pressure and shading through the Pencil’s array of sensors. The Smart Keyboard provides a physical interface for photographers who need to keep up with emails or take notes for their next shoot. This keyboard also works as a stand for hands-free viewing and interfaces with the iPad using the Smart Connector, which utilizes the two-way conductive fabric of the Smart Keyboard.
Now compatible with the Apple Pencil is the standard iPad, which blends affordability and features. This is likely the best option if you only need something for occasional use, because it is still quite powerful and would be a great laptop replacement if you are going on trips. It could serve as a brilliant portable portfolio, thanks to its 9.7" screen, or a lightweight editing machine, and has all the same app support at the Pro models, though with a more modest overall feature set.
Offering the smallest fully featured Multi-Touch display in Apple’s lineup is the iPad Mini 4, with an impressive 7.9" Retina display that will show off your images in all their glory. Its size makes it an easy addition to an everyday bag. It uses its own A8 system-on-a-chip architecture to produce vivid colors and handle apps with ease.
Beyond color, each iPad generally offers two other basic options: storage capacity and cellular networking. Photographers will benefit greatly from upgraded storage, being able to save numerous photographs in full resolution without needing to unload every other day. For photographers constantly on the move who need to upload images or send emails to clients, 4G LTE connectivity will let them access the Internet from nearly anywhere there is cellular service. If you don’t need this, Wi-Fi only versions are available for working in your home or studio.
